Experiencing a B-Boy's Alpha/Ultimate Bodhichitta Through the Union of Shamatha and Vipashyana
Introduction to the Practice:
To experience a B-Boy’s Alpha or ultimate bodhichitta—the awakened heart-mind of a Hiphop Bodhisattva—requires a deep dive into both stillness and insight. In Buddhist practice, this is achieved through the union of shamatha (calm abiding) and vipashyana (clear seeing). Just as a B-Boy reaches their "alpha state" by returning to their original essence—a state of raw, unconditioned authenticity—one can experience ultimate bodhichitta by cultivating both focused stillness and penetrating insight into the nature of reality.
Just as the Bodhisattva relies on the union of shamatha and vipashyana to achieve a balanced mind—calm, focused, and perceptive—so too does the B-Boy require a disciplined approach that integrates stillness and insight.
Through this practice, we aim to stabilize the mind, cultivate inner clarity, and see beyond the surface level of our thoughts, emotions, and actions. By applying these principles to the elements of Hiphop, practitioners can learn to experience their true nature, both as individuals and as members of a larger community, finding freedom and purpose in their art and their lives. Let's explore how this can be practiced and realized in the context of Hiphop culture, where the B-Boy's Alpha represents a return to the core, unfiltered state of creativity, expression, and truth.
Shamatha: Cultivating Calm Abiding
Shamatha is the practice of stabilizing the mind, cultivating calm and focus. For a B-Boy, B-Girl or B-Them, this could be seen as akin to finding one’s center in the midst of movement—the moment of deep presence and grounding when the mind and body are in perfect harmony.
In practical terms, this involves:
Focus on Breath or Movement: Begin by finding a comfortable seated position or standing posture, wherever you feel most at ease. Allow your attention to settle on your breath, noticing each inhalation and exhalation. If you’re dancing or moving, allow your focus to rest on a specific movement—feeling the rhythm and flow of your body in space.
Letting Go of Distractions: Just as in a cypher, where distractions must be tuned out to stay in the moment, gently release any thoughts, judgments, or distractions that arise. When the mind wanders, simply bring it back to the breath or the movement, with patience and kindness. This is like finding the beat again after losing it—returning to the center with calm determination.
Resting in the Present Moment: Continue to rest your awareness on your chosen object (breath or movement), allowing the mind to calm and stabilize. The goal here is to cultivate a sense of groundedness and focus, a stable base from which insight can arise.
In the context of experiencing a B-Boy's Alpha, shamatha is about cultivating a state of inner stillness and focus, where the mind is clear and attentive, able to engage fully with the present moment. It is in this state that the dancer, the artist, the practitioner begins to experience a sense of flow—a merging of the self with the creative process.
Vipashyana: Cultivating Clear Seeing
Vipashyana (insight meditation) is the practice of seeing clearly into the nature of reality. In the context of Hiphop and the B-Boy’s Alpha, this practice is about recognizing the deeper truths underlying both our art and our existence. It is about understanding the impermanent, interconnected, and non-dual nature of all things.
To cultivate vipashyana, consider the following steps:
Observing the Nature of Thoughts and Emotions: Once the mind is calm and stable through shamatha, begin to observe the nature of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Notice how they arise, linger, and dissolve, like beats in a track or the steps in a dance sequence. Recognize that just as the rhythm flows, so too does everything in life—always changing, always moving.
Seeing Through the Illusions: In the Hiphop world, the Alpha state is about cutting through illusions—seeing past societal conditioning, external expectations, and internal doubts to find the true self. Similarly, vipashyana involves seeing through the illusions of the ego, recognizing that much of what we take to be solid or permanent is, in fact, fluid and interconnected.
Contemplating Interdependence: Reflect on the interconnected nature of everything within Hiphop culture—how the beats, rhymes, movements, and expressions are all interdependent, arising from a shared history, community, and experience. Understand that your individual expression is part of a larger whole, just as every person’s Buddha nature is connected to the ultimate reality.
Embracing Non-Dual Awareness: Finally, move beyond dualistic thinking. Just as a B-Boy becomes one with the music, with the dance floor, with the audience, realize that there is no separation between self and other, dancer and dance, artist and art. This non-dual awareness is at the heart of both ultimate bodhichitta and the B-Boy's Alpha—a recognition of oneness with all things.
Union of Shamatha and Vipashyana: Experiencing the B-Boy’s Alpha or Ultimate Bodhichitta
To experience a B-Boy's Alpha or ultimate bodhichitta, one must practice the union of shamatha and vipashyana. Here’s how this integration unfolds:
Grounded Awareness (Shamatha) as the Foundation: Just as a dancer needs a grounded stance to begin a complex routine, we need the calm and stable base of shamatha to support our practice. This calm abiding gives us the capacity to stay present, to engage fully with our art, and to experience the moment without distraction.
Insightful Awareness (Vipashyana) as the Vision: Building on this stable foundation, we bring in the clarity of vipashyana—seeing deeply into the nature of our art, our mind, and our world. In Hiphop, this might mean understanding the cultural and historical context of our expression, recognizing the interconnected struggles and joys that give birth to our creativity. In Buddhist terms, it means perceiving the impermanence and interconnectedness of all phenomena.
Union of Stability and Clarity: When shamatha and vipashyana are united, we reach a state where the mind is both stable and clear—able to rest in the present moment while also seeing deeply into the nature of reality. This is the experience of the B-Boy’s Alpha: a place where self-expression and insight merge, where the rawness of being meets the wisdom of understanding.
Realizing Ultimate Bodhichitta: Ultimate bodhichitta is the awakened heart-mind that arises when we fully recognize our interconnectedness with all beings and commit to their liberation. In the context of Hiphop, this is akin to the B-Boy’s Alpha state—a recognition that one's art is not just a personal endeavor but a collective, transformative force. It is understanding that our creativity, our struggles, and our victories are intertwined with those of others, and that we have the potential to awaken and inspire through our craft.
By integrating shamatha and vipashyana, we cultivate a mind that is both calm and insightful, capable of experiencing the depth of a B-Boy’s Alpha or ultimate bodhichitta. Through grounded practice and clear seeing, we come to recognize our true nature—the original essence that connects us to all beings and to the creative force of the universe.
This union is not just a mental exercise; it is a way of living and embodying our highest potential. Just as a B-Boy or B-Girl finds their Alpha state by expressing their most authentic self in the cypher, we too can find our ultimate bodhichitta by embracing both stillness and insight, using our lives, our art, and our actions to serve and awaken all beings.
In this way, we step into the role of the Hiphop Bodhisattva, living with courage, compassion, and creativity, transforming ourselves and the world around us. Now let's look at how the experience of ultimate bodhichitta may be realized through the elements of Hiphop.
Realizing a B-Boy's Alpha or Ultimate Bodhichitta Through the Elements of Hiphop
Hiphop is a culture grounded in creativity, resilience, and expression. Its core elements—MCing, DJing, breaking (B-Boying), graffiti, and knowledge—offer unique pathways to achieving the state of a B-Boy's Alpha or ultimate bodhichitta. Just as the Buddhist practices of shamatha (calm abiding) and vipashyana (clear seeing) cultivate a union of stillness and insight, the elements of Hiphop serve as vehicles to reach a similar state of awakening and connection.
Using the Elements of Hiphop as a Path to Ultimate Bodhichitta
Each of Hiphop's elements provides a distinct method for engaging with the present moment, exploring the self, and transforming both personal and collective suffering. By approaching these elements with the intention of cultivating inner clarity and compassion, practitioners can experience the B-Boy’s Alpha state—a return to their original essence that aligns with the principles of ultimate bodhichitta.
MCing (Rapping/Rhyming) – The Voice of Wisdom and Compassion:
MCing, or rapping, is the element of Hiphop focused on lyrical expression. It embodies the power of words to convey truth, challenge oppression, and inspire change. To achieve a state of ultimate bodhichitta through MCing, one must see the mic as a tool for cultivating wisdom (prajna) and compassion (karuna).
Practice: Use the act of writing and performing lyrics as a form of insight meditation (vipashyana). Reflect deeply on personal experiences, struggles, and the collective conditions of the community. Through this reflection, aim to uncover deeper truths about existence, suffering, and interconnectedness. Let the words flow with awareness, intending to express not just personal pain or triumph, but also the shared human condition.
Fruition: The MC becomes a Hiphop Bodhisattva by using their voice to elevate consciousness, educate, and empower others. As the Buddha taught that words should be “true, kind, and necessary,” so does the mindful MC use their craft to spread messages of resilience, truth, and unity.
DJing – The Art of Presence and Flow:
DJing is the element that revolves around creating and maintaining rhythm, using beats and sounds to move the audience. It is an act of deep listening and attunement, where the DJ is fully present, in sync with the music and the crowd.
Practice: Approach DJing as a form of shamatha, or calm abiding. Focus on each beat, each transition, each scratch. Allow the mind to become absorbed in the rhythm, finding stillness within the constant movement. Cultivate a sense of flow where the ego dissolves, and the DJ becomes one with the turntables, the sound, and the dance floor.
Fruition: The DJ achieves a state of ultimate bodhichitta by creating spaces for joy, connection, and healing. As they manipulate sound to elevate the crowd, they understand that they are creating more than just a musical experience—they are crafting a shared moment of presence and unity, fostering a collective awakening to the present.
B-Boying/B-Girling/B-Them-ing (Breaking/Breakdancing) – The Dance of the Mind and Body:
View: Breaking, the dynamic dance form of Hiphop, is a physical expression of freedom, strength, and creativity. To achieve a B-Boy’s Alpha through breaking, one must recognize the dance floor as a sacred space for cultivating both shamatha and vipashyana.
Practice: Use each movement, each step, each freeze as a meditation in motion. Begin with the intention of grounding the body and calming the mind, letting go of distractions and self-doubt. Then, move deeper into the practice, allowing the dance to become an expression of insight—seeing the interconnectedness between oneself, the music, the audience, and the culture. Dance not just to impress, but to express the inner truth, the raw essence of who you are.
Fruition: The B-Boy/B-Girl/B-Them achieves ultimate bodhichitta by using their body as a vehicle for awakening. Their movements become an offering, a means of connecting with others on a deeper level, breaking down barriers and inspiring the courage to be fully authentic and alive.
Graffiti – The Expression of Impermanence and Liberation:
View: Graffiti, often considered the most rebellious element of Hiphop, is an act of claiming space and making one’s mark on the world. It involves seeing beauty and art in places others might overlook or dismiss. To achieve a state of ultimate bodhichitta through graffiti, one must see it as a practice of embracing impermanence and challenging attachment.
Practice: Approach graffiti as a meditation on impermanence (anicca). Every piece, no matter how permanent it may seem, is ultimately temporary—subject to decay, removal, or being painted over. Use this awareness to let go of the ego’s attachment to fame or recognition. Instead, create with the intention to beautify, to challenge, and to inspire without clinging to outcomes.
Fruition: The graffiti artist embodies the Hiphop Bodhisattva by using public art as a form of expression that awakens people to new perspectives, challenges societal norms, and brings color and life to spaces that might otherwise feel empty or forgotten. The act itself becomes a message: everything is in constant flux, and we have the power to shape and reshape our environment with compassion and creativity.
Knowledge – The Foundation of Understanding and Awakening:
View: Knowledge is the fifth element of Hiphop, and it represents the conscious understanding of Hiphop’s history, values, and purpose. It is the cultivation of awareness and insight into the culture’s origins and its role as a vehicle for change.
Practice: Engage in deep study and contemplation of Hiphop’s roots, its struggles, and its transformative potential. Reflect on the parallels between the teachings of the Buddha and the messages within Hiphop—both aim to alleviate suffering and liberate beings from ignorance and oppression.
Fruition: The practitioner achieves a state of ultimate bodhichitta by using this knowledge to guide their actions, ensuring that their engagement with Hiphop is both mindful and aligned with its deeper purpose. They become a teacher, a guardian of the culture, and a force for positive change.
Integrating the Elements: The Hiphop Bodhisattva in Action
By engaging with the elements of Hiphop through the lenses of shamatha and vipashyana, practitioners find unique pathways to experience the B-Boy’s Alpha state or ultimate bodhichitta. Each element becomes a tool for awakening—a way to cultivate inner stillness, insight, and compassion, while also contributing to the collective transformation of the culture and its community.
The Practice in Everyday Life:
Begin with Intention: Start each session of MCing, DJing, breaking, graffiti, or studying Hiphop’s history with a clear intention to benefit all beings and to awaken your inner potential.
Cultivate Presence: Use the specific practices of each element to cultivate calmness and clarity. Focus on your breath, your movement, your words, or your art as a means to center yourself in the present moment.
Seek Insight: Reflect on the deeper meanings and connections within your practice. See how your personal expression is interconnected with the broader community and the universal human experience.
Embody Compassion: Use your art to uplift, inspire, and serve others. Recognize that your creativity is not just for yourself but for the healing and awakening of all beings.
By using the elements of Hiphop—MCing, DJing, breaking, graffiti, and knowledge—as pathways to cultivate shamatha and vipashyana, practitioners can achieve the B-Boy's Alpha state or ultimate bodhichitta. They learn to balance calmness with insight, authenticity with compassion, and creativity with wisdom. In this way, Hiphop becomes not just a culture, but a spiritual path—a way of realizing the interconnectedness of all beings and dedicating one’s life and art to the service and awakening of the world.
Through these practices, the Hiphop Bodhisattva emerges—a warrior of compassion and creativity, transforming both themselves and their community, and walking the path of enlightenment on the dance floor, the stage, the streets, and beyond.
Justin F. Miles LCPC-S LGADC-S, Founder, Hiphop Alive